Consumer Trends

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    Southworks

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    Why dashboard dining and weekend restaurant visits are on the rise

    Consumer trends are contradictory, according to a Technomic presentation at the National Restaurant Association Show, with both on-premise group dining and solo car dining on the rise.

    By • May 22, 2025
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Technomic: LTOs and value are key to solving traffic downturn

    With consumers bracing for tariff impacts, limited-time offerings will likely grow in importance alongside budget-focused menu items.

    By • May 20, 2025
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    sam edwards via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Menu development

    Restaurants big and small are experimenting with their menus to align with the preferences of on-the-go diners and mitigate the impact of rising food costs, supply chain disruption and shrinking consumer discretionary funds. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • Am image of a sign on a window that says "Meal Deal" and shows a chicken sandwich and burger with nuggest, fries and a Coca-Cola.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Analysts at NRA Show: Tariffs could make H2 gloomier for restaurants

    Traffic is down and consumers are pulling back. But some diners might be trading up as fast food chains lose pricing advantages relative to fast casual, and even full-service, chains.

    By • May 19, 2025
  • An image of a customer entering a Cava restaurant.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    How Cava beat traffic gravity in Q1

    The brand’s 10.8% comparable sales growth outperformed rival fast casuals, with Chipotle and Sweetgreen posting flat-to-negative sales.

    By • May 16, 2025
  • An exterior shot of a beige restaurant on a rainy day.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Vegan full-service chain Planta goes bankrupt

    Rising costs, falling consumer demand and structural changes in the restaurant industry left the brand with insufficient cash flow.

    By • May 14, 2025
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    Patpitchaya via Getty Images
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    Tariffs, immigration policy put US restaurants at ‘significant risk’: Fitch

    High consumer price sensitivity leaves brands with little room to offset the costs of tariffs and labor market disruptions.

    By • May 14, 2025
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    Permission granted by MARS Foodservices
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    Sponsored by MARS Foodservices

    Top sweet snacking trends

    Learn how to elevate your dessert offerings and explore the latest trends consumers crave in 2025!

    May 12, 2025
  • An image of a Sweetgreen restaurant with a drive-thru
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen’s same-store sales slip for first time as public company

    The salad brand attributed its sales shortfall to consumer pullback, and is looking to loyalty and LTOs to offset the trouble.

    By • May 9, 2025
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    Courtesy of Huddle House
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    Huddle House pursues drive-thrus, non-traditional growth in rebrand

    As casual dining struggles, brands are leaning into a wide array of real estate and menu changes to capture fast casual and QSR diners.

    By • May 8, 2025
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    epicimages via Getty Images
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    Consumers expected to spend 7% less on restaurants this summer

    A majority of consumers, who are already feeling the pinch of inflation and shrinking incomes, expect tariffs to raise prices, a KPMG report finds. 

    By • May 5, 2025
  • Three fast food beverages stand in line.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s to test expanded beverage menu this year

    Adding more items to its menu, including energy drinks and coffee, will help the chain compete with sector rivals and boost profitability.

    By • May 1, 2025
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ employee, algorithm investments show signs of paying off

    Pilot programs last quarter proved workers, not equipment, are the key to solving Starbucks’ low throughput woes, according to CEO Brian Niccol.

    By Bryan Wassel • May 1, 2025
  • A photograph of a red and yellow sign with a giant yellow "M" above a red box that says "McDonald's Billions Served."
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s US traffic slides due to economic uncertainty

    Low- and middle-income guests pulled back spending in Q1, but the chain expects improved performance from promotions and the launch of chicken strips.

    By • May 1, 2025
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    Starbucks suffers 5th quarter of falling comps

    The coffee chain will start cafe remodels to improve its coffeehouse feel in New York and Southern California later this year as its brand turnaround continues.

    By • April 30, 2025
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    Permission granted by Saucy by KFC
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    Taco Bell sales surge, KFC will expand Saucy concept

    As Taco Bell succeeds in the U.S., KFC’s spinoff could replicate the Cantina strategy that Taco Bell has used to power its menu innovation.

    By • April 30, 2025
  • Chili's Big Smasher cheeseburger accompanied by sides of chips, fries and cola on a wooden dining table
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    Permission granted by Chili's Grill & Bar
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    Chili’s notches 21% traffic surge

    The casual chain’s focus on value is driving success where rivals are lagging, with many competitors reporting sliding same-store sales. 

    By • April 29, 2025
  • McDonald's new McCrispy chicken strips.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s chicken strips mark first permanent menu addition in 4 years

    The chain needs a menu win — and a leg up on fast-growing chicken competitors — after last year’s value and LTO successes were offset by an E. Coli outbreak.

    By • April 25, 2025
  • An image of two pizzas in front of a pizza oven.
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    Courtesy of Bertucci's
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    Bertucci’s goes bankrupt for 3rd time in 7 years

    The ailing brand, which closed 7 of its 22 stores, may lean on its fast casual spinoff to weather the rising costs and waning consumer confidence hurting casual restaurants.

    By • April 25, 2025
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    Retrieved from Tri Star Energy.
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    How c-stores can pull loyalty from QSRs

    Strong value, including meal deals and quality food, could help c-stores make inroads against fast food, says restaurant technology company Tillster.

    By Jessica Loder • April 25, 2025
  • Pedestrians walk by a Chipotle restaurant in San Francisco, California
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Chipotle’s same-store sales wobble on economic uncertainty

    The fast casual giant — a sales overperformer in 2024 — said its comparable transactions fell in what could be an early warning of anemic diner spending.

    By • April 24, 2025
  • The exterior of a Del Taco with several empty parking lots out front
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Del Taco’s new meal boxes mirror Taco Bell deal

    The value bundles — which are priced between $5 and $9 — come as the chain battles shrinking same-store sales.

    By • April 23, 2025
  • Omar Epps as the Sauce Boss in a Zaxbys campaign
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    Courtesy of Zaxbys
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    Q&A

    Zaxbys’ CMO on breaking through the chicken category with ‘sauce’

    The chain’s first work from Goodby Silverstein & Partners introduces a brand character that speaks to both signature sauces and cool charisma.

    By Chris Kelly • April 23, 2025
  • A view of a KFC restaurant in Vallejo, California.
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    How KFC’s customer listening program helps it nail the first experience

    The program is designed to collect data from a range of sources, disseminate findings across the company and coordinate teams to solve customer pain points, KFC COO Rob Swain said.

    By Bryan Wassel • April 22, 2025
  • An image of a Cava logo
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Cava is poised to outperform restaurant industry, analysts say

    The Mediterranean fast casual chain is the clear segment leader, and is on course for 1,200 stores by 2033, TD Cowen estimated.

    By • April 21, 2025
  • Kentucky Fried Chicken's 2024 $5 value deals: A chicken nuggets combo, a famous bowl with mashed potatoes and nuggets, and a 2-piece combo.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC’s US sales fall behind Raising Cane’s, Wingstop

    Sales at most American QSR chicken chains rose in 2024, but fell 4% at KFC, according to a Circana report on the 50 largest U.S. restaurant brands.

    By • April 21, 2025